In my eMail Box: (Kabuto) Hats off to Coen

I haven't yet blogged my most-marvellous-best-launch-ever yet at St Pius X as I haven't got all the photos in order (yet. coming soon. watch this space).

However Coen and his mum are much more organised than me. Coen was the winner of the K-6 Mask and helmet

making competition with his wonderful kabuto helmet and samurai mask. I wish I had one like it.

When we met Coen was reading Matthew Reilly's Hovercar Racer but after winning a copy of Fire Lizard (and enjoying the first chapter) he decided to read the whole series. After he finishes Hovercar Racer of course!

Celebrating Three Ways

September 1 is an important day in my household. First, it's Indigenous Literacy Day, which aims to help raise funds to raise literacy levels and improve the lives and opportunities of Indigenous Australians living in remote and isolated regions. And if you are wondering what you can do to help, check out the suggestions on Anita Heiss Blog. We can at the bare minimum buy a book today (you can never have too many books and if you think you can, buy one as a gift) or make a donation on-line. Lots of $2 add up to very worthwhile amounts.

Today is also the release of the fifth book in my Samurai Kids series, Fire Lizard, otherwise known as 'the red one'. It tells the story of the Kids adventure in the Kingdom of Joseon (now known as Korea).

Terrorised by the corrupt Governor and his cunning henchman Hyo Moon, the poeple of the NIne Valleys grow desperate. Their only hope is Sensei's former teacher, Pak Cho. Now a frail, blind man. At great risk, Sensei and the Little Cockroaches escort Pak Cho to Daejeon City to deliver a warning to the Governor.

Can the Little Cockroaches defeat Hyo Moon? Will Pak Cho's message stop the Governor from destroying the valleys?

And the first paragraph:

Chapter One: Facing the Tiger

The tiger roars. It bares its teeth and staring directly at us, bellows even louder than before.

Kyoko drops her pack in fright.

“Don’t move,” Sensei whispers.

It’s hard to follow his advice when Kyoko’s pack landed on my foot.

But then the great tiger roars a third time, deep and throaty, mouth open wide. My body stiffens. The fear in my heart is much greater than the throb in my foot. I am the White Crane whose eyes can clearly see long cruel canines for puncturing and tearing. Strong vicious jaws for ripping and chewing.

Sensei taught us about tigers. One swipe to the head is enough to kill and one bite can sever a limb or carve a chunk out of your spine.

And finally, today is the first day of the Authors & Illustrators of the Illawarra exhibition at Beach Art Gallery, featuring among others, the work of Sue Whiting, Donna Rawlins, Ann Lamb, Lexie Watt, Rhian Nest-James and myself.

A Novel in My Lunch Hour

My friends and colleagues are often involved in writing challenges like NaNoWriMo where they write a novel in a month. The mind boggles in admiration - I have neither the time nor the ability to produce this mega output.

But recently I found that I have accidentally set myself a challenge after all. I have always believed that there is no such excuse as "I don't have time to write." While logistically there are always time constraints and it is very true some people have extremely small windows of spare time - the moment a person makes time, the moment they prioritise their writing - they have taken the first step towards becoming a writer. Even if it is only ten minutes at the bus stop.

I was speaking on a panel a few months ago and during the break, a woman approached me to say: "I have always wanted to write. I just don't have the time." I immediately dragged out my soapbox and explained: "You never will, until you make the time." After the break she said goodbye and started to leave. "Aren't you staying for the second half?" I asked. "No. I'm going home to write. I'm starting now." So either I inspired and motivated her or bored her so badly in the first half she was glad to have an excuse to get away. I hope it was the former.

Lately I have had to eat my words. Literally. For lunch. I have been so time poor with the demands of the holiday season and family issues. While I am lucky enough to have a full time writing schedule (two books a year), I'm too early in my career to be making even a part-time income and I need to juggle writing with a full-time job. With five books on the shelf, I not only have to find the time to write but to answer reader emails, run workshops, visit schools, manage two websites and follow up promotional opportunites.

Suddenly I am so tired. My 10pm - 1pm window has shrunk. And at 12pm I just can't think anymore. So what's left? Lunch hour. And that's what I am doing. I am writing a novel in my lunch hour. So far it's working well. I did the last few chapters of Fire Lizard (Samurai Kids 5) this way and the initial editorial feedback didn't include: This sounds like someone wrote it in their lunch break *grin*

Strangely enough, that hour in the middle of the day is a very productive one when it comes to spitting out 500 words. By lunchtime I've been rattling my ideas and thoughts around in my brain for hours. Some days now, I even know where the plot is going before I start typing!

I'm making time and the words are flowing faster than ever.